One of the first questions I get when booking a client is, “Where do you recommend we have the session?”. With that in mind, I thought I’d list here my favorite locations in and around DC to help you decide where your session with me will take place.
Whether you booked an engagement session, a family session, or a solo session with me, I want you to pick a location that has deep meaning to you. It’s there that we’ll create the most gorgeous images you could have hoped for.
Keep in mind that most locations in the DMV require a paid photography permit! I’ve highlighted them in bold, so know that if you pick one of them, we’ll need to factor that in.
Without further ado, here’s my list of favorite locations in the DMV:
NATURE
Are you happier when walking amongst the trees? Do you enjoy hiking? Is that something you and your significant other do on the regular? Then let’s go explore!
I have a secret spot, with an easy trail, right behind my in-laws’ backyard. This is a woodsy location and I love it because, for most of the year, it feels like you’re about to enter your very own fairytale land.
Other spots I’ve photographed at or would love to get to: Gambrill State Park, Billy Goat Trail A in MD, Sugarloaf Mountain in MD, Bear’s Den in VA, and Rock Creek Park in DC.
URBAN
I love exploring the city, so if you’re like me, let’s get lost in DC!
I like to think of these urban sessions as real hangouts. We can plan the session around an activity like visiting your favorite bookshop or getting coffee at a cute cafe.
Other options are Capitol Hill, Blagden Alley, and the Eastern Market area.
Some of my favorite sessions were done in the client’s own neighborhood. So if you love your neck of the woods, that’s a good place to consider.
HISTORIC
We are in one of the most culturally rich areas of the United States. So much of history happened right here! Here are some nature/historic sites that can be the perfect location for your session:
MD: Great Falls, Monocacy Battlefield, Glen Echo Park, Hampton Historic Mansion, Glenview Mansion (I got married there!), Rawlings Conservatory
VA: Old Town Alexandria, Manassas Battlefield
West Virginia: Harpers Ferry
Washington DC: Georgetown, Tudor Place
CLASSIC WASHINGTON DC
Let’s talk about permits, because this, my friends, is permit-land. I would love for our bureaucratic institutions that decide these things to get with the times and make this easier on all of us family/engagement photographers, but that’s a topic for another post!
If you dream of photos with any of the monuments as the setting, know that the NPS charges a fee of $140. It takes between 1 - 3 weeks to get it processed and you have to fax it in. It’s like they’re stuck in 1989.
With that said, I’m not gonna lie, I love a sunrise shoot at the Jefferson Memorial, or in the less visited spots like Constitution Gardens and the DC War Memorial. Super important though… It has to be a sunrise shoot. Otherwise, you’re looking at sharing the spot with 1000 teenagers on their 8th-grade field trip, and trust me, that’s not fun.
I personally prefer to photograph on the Capitol Grounds (also at sunrise or Sunday sunsets when the buildings are closed!!). They require a permit, but there’s no fee! AAAH! JOY! From there we can even sneak in a few shots around the Library of Congress Jefferson Building.
LOCAL DC
These are the spots locals love to frequent and they can be such great locations for shoots!
One of my top choices is the Kennedy Center rooftop, which is available as long as there are no events going on. The clean, stark architecture and views of the city at sunset make for great photos. The Georgetown Waterfront is another good spot with beautiful views of the Key Bridge (a DC staple). I also love Dupont Circle and Adams Morgan for a neighborhood vibe.
Another favorite location of mine is the National Gallery of Art. Museum vibes and such gorgeous architecture! We can get really creative with it!
THE BEACH
Did you know we can get to the Eastern Shore in less than an hour? Sandy Point State Park and Terrapin Beach Park are two beaches on the Chesapeake Bay I’d love to do a session at.
AT HOME
Your home is where the magic happens. It’s where you and your loved ones feel most comfortable. Where you can let your hair down and allow me to capture your true self in all your gorgeous glory. So if you choose to have your session at home, I've already said yes to it! I know most people don't have a Pinterest-perfect home and they shouldn't. To me, home needs to feel lived in. Perfection is a bit boring, isn't it? The only thing I require when doing a home session is light! So we plan the session for that time of day when your windows get the most sunlight. It might take some observing on your part at first if you've never paid attention to it before, but once we know where the good light is, even the messiest corners of your house can be a beautiful location. And we’re set! No permit required!
The main goal of my sessions is to capture real moments and nothing is more real than the place where you live. Of course, I’ll sneak in a perfect framer for grandma’s mantelpiece, but I thrive on recording the truth. I want you to hold in your hands, years from now, images that will make your eyes well up. Images that will make you smile because you’re so happy that I was able to capture a fleeting moment you hoped you’d never forget.
